May 27, 2023 2 min read

Visit to Fairfield Stationeers

A different demographic - pretty much the same issues for Station volunteers

FIDO has been at Fairfield Station for 25 years

Stephen L and I took the short train ride to Fairfield to meet our colleagues who are doing a fine job of maintaining that station's gardens.

Bella worked the carriage up, down, up again assiduously for admirers. Repeat. Do dogs ever pull a tailwagging muscle? Cramp up?

We sat outside at 15 Pounds to take in the street scenery. A somewhat younger demographic than we typically see at Eaglemont.

Anna and Christine said their group has been active for over 30 years. Typically they have 4 or 5 working bees a year, essentially to weed and tidy up around the established plants.

A small notice but it resulted in a huge weed pile - quickly collected by a grateful Darebin Council.

Fairfield is also an unstaffed station - except for the PSOs.

And they suffer the indignity of locked public toilets too.

Remarkably the available space in the unstaffed station is being used by U3A for an office as well as a meeting room!

Not a public asset simply closed up against all users.

There is also a community noticeboard situated prominently at the station entrance - fittingly designed to fit the neighbourhood character.

Out in the weather, but locals have learned to laminate.

We took along a hakea, an eremophila, a eucalypt and a saltbush from our nursery for them to incorporate in the station gardens.

A pleasant hour was spent discussing our experiences as Stationeers. Our Fairfield colleagues will come along to Eaglemont for a coffee and inspection tour soon.